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Can't say they didn't warn you.
If you'd like to reproduce this NextMuni bug (which only occurs late at night, after the last trains leave), Octoferret's lovely Flickr stream contains details. Obviously it's an error -- what it should say is "No prediction," which is a far more useful message than an estimate of when the route starts running again.
We predict that this'll be fixed within a few days. Why? Because NextBus is super-responsive when you tell them about problems. Whenever you spot the system acting weird, just send a note to website - at - nextbus - dot - com. For example, we wrote to them about the 33 acting funny, and NextBus personally replied and fixed the problem within a week. Customer service that's pleasant and professional: Muni must hate them so much.
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Yeah, Nextbus++ in the support category. :)
It's always amusing to get "null" in place of "No prediction." I seem to get that for the 6 right after the last bus runs, although I have been seeing the 300-odd minutes on occasion after last call recently as well.
If only Muni themselves acted with such swiftness.
I was ecstatic to find that the 71 and other diesel buses were finally added, years late, to the NextMuni list (i.e., GPS transmitters were finally installed in those buses), especially at a time when the service on that line I use most was cut down with nary a mention. My excitement only lasted so long, though, as the appearance of the new hybrid buses - none of which seem to be outfitted with GPS, since they don't show up on the NextMuni map - renders prediction accuracy consistently off. So, I'm back to *hoping* the bus is going to come within its appointed timetable, instead of knowing exactly when to leave. Thanks MUNI - for nuthin'.
Matt,
That prediction is about right. I called 311 (nee 511, since Verizon Wireless no longer wanted to connect my calls directly to 311... ugh) to complain about being stuck at West Portal station again. Turns out there was no power between Van Ness and West Portal at some point today. Then I pointed out that I was on a train that had just gone thru that stretch of tunnel.
My guess: MUNI is turning more K/T trains around at West Portal. At least I'm seeing more K's listing West Portal as their last stop. Why they don't turn at Castro where it will take less than 10 minutes... I don't know.
As for NextBus and the hybrids... all of the hybrids I've been on (40 footer running L-Owl and a 35 footer running the 66-Quintara/30th AVE) have had the NextBus equipment on them. If you've got the little red LED sign (or two for the articulated buses) that announces the stops as you approach them (even if inoperable), the bus is GPS equipped. The old Orion 1s (the weird lookin 35 foot buses) were *not* GPS equipped.
I just checked NB, and found one bus on the 66 (8512), seven on the 48 (incl. 8402 and 8422), and two on the 36 (8515 and 8510). These are all hybrid buses. If they're being hidden from the 'public' map, I couldn't tell you why.